What’s new in Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1

Google just released First Android 13 feature dropbut the company is already working hard to prepare the next update, which is supposed to be released in March 2023. Just like that, the first beta of this The platform’s second quarterly release (QPR) was released on December 12, 2022. While Google hasn’t spilled too many beans on what will be new, enthusiastic experts have taken a look at what’s going on behind the scenes and what new features will be released as part of it.

Interface changes

The visual changes are always the most noticeable, and there are a few tweaks available in QPR2 Beta 1. The quick settings tiles in the notification shade have been moved very slightly and sit near the clock and date now. When you expand it by scrolling down, you will also notice that the clock increases in size as you swipe, while the date is moved below the clock. Your mobile carrier is also displayed above the status icons on the right side rather than next to them.

First image: Animation of the new media player. Second: a large clock in the notification center.

Google never seems to stop tweaking the media player in the Notification Center, and Android 13 QPR2 is no different. The new version of Android adds a blurry overlay to the album art used as the background of the media player that moves when the player is first viewed. The animation disappears after you look at it for a while, and it does not respond to the current playback at all, which makes us think that it is still under development and not finished yet.

Notification Center is showing another noticeable change (or bug). When you swipe down on the lock screen without unlocking first, a black background will appear (even in light mode) and it will completely hide silent notifications. In previous versions of Android, silent notifications would not appear on the lock screen, but they would appear again once you swipe down.

The first pair of pictures: Notifications on the lock screen. Second pair: notifications on the home screen.

Another option that Google is working on with this version is the ability to launch an app in full screen mode when you actually click on the split screen option. This is useful if you change your mind about using an app in split screen mode. For now, you have to choose the respective app again from your last screen or home screen when you want to launch it in full screen view instead.

As I spotted it 9to5GooglePixel Launcher for QPR2 has made adjustments to icon density and padding. In folders, app icons are now farther apart, making it difficult to hit the wrong icon by accident. App icons on the home screen itself have also gone up slightly compared to previous Android 13 versions, with more padding on the left and right. This is also the case for the app launcher which you can access by swiping up anywhere on your home screen.

Another small interface tweak was made to the Battery Health settings, which were first discovered in the QPR1 code. The panel shows you the battery details and how much original capacity it still has. As long as it’s aging as it should, you’ll get a green checkmark telling you everything’s fine, but the panel also offers actionable tips on how to extend your battery life.

Preparations for desktop mode

Android expert Mishaal Al-Rahman Reveal more changes under the hood. As he mentioned in his roundup of the Drop Feature in Android 13 back in December, work continues on the currently hidden desktop mode that was originally intended for developers testing multi-screen environments. When using desktop mode in this version of Android, there is a floating bar superimposed on top of floating or free-form windows, which provides options to minimize and maximize, enter split-screen mode, and more. This shows that the company is trying to prepare the situation for consumers.

After some fixes, Mishaal Rahman was able to activate the mode and show what these floating windows look like in action, which you can see below.

Screen sharing between spouses

Google is also continuing to work on partial screen recordings, which Rahman first revealed in this December’s Feature Drop. The option will allow you to choose a single window to record or send, similar to how you can choose individual tabs or windows to participate in group video calls. On Android, you’ll be able to choose between individual apps and full screen sharing.

New non-material subject

Another piece of information monitored by Rahman is a New material called “Monochrome” theme. It wasn’t available to use at first, but he managed to activate it via root. As you might be judging by the name of the theme, it is one of the most muted options you can choose. It is similar to the “SPRITZ” option that was It was introduced with the first version of Android 13, a desaturated theme that already feels monochromatic, but takes things further with a pure black and white base. If you’re someone who can’t join Material You, this might be the theme for you.

Miscellaneous

A big update like this also fixes small issues. Some people reported that scrolling issues on the Pixel 7 Pro were resolved, which was inconsistent for them. Then there are people who have lost access to the new unified Security & Privacy settings pane, which seems to be related to the way Google rolls out this option (using Google Play Services instead of system updates). There are more bits and pieces found by Mishaal Rahman, which are collected below for your convenience.

• Google is looking to add a file Reduce Vibration mode to pixelsmost likely to help those devices with bad haptic engines.
• The Google Pixel 6 Pro It received a 1080p display option with this update, similar to what the Pixel 7 Pro already offers.
• Spatial Audio has been re-enabled for all supported Pixels (Pixel 6 series through Pixel 7 series). You may be able to notice the difference when listening to spatial audio sample videos on YouTube with spatial audio enabled.
• A new adaptive alert vibration option can reduce the strength of notification vibrations when your phone is lying flat on a surface with the screen elevated, though this feature isn’t straightforward or accessible yet.
• There is more evidence that Google is developing software for the rumored foldable Google Pixel Fold: A new setting will be available for devices with side-mounted fingerprint sensors (which the Fold is rumored to be a feature), allowing you to unlock your phone with it only when the screen is on.
• Google is considering separating ringer sound and notification volume. On older Android versions, this was always the case, but Google combined these two options on its Pixel phones a long time ago.

Join the Android 13 QPR1 beta program

If you have a Pixel phone, you can join the Android 13 QPR2 beta program at Android site. Here, you will have to select the ‘View your eligible devices’ option to choose the phone you wish to enroll in the beta. As always, know that there can be bugs that completely break the way you use your phone, so proceed with caution and only if you can do without your Pixel phone in an emergency. If you prefer to download the trial version, be sure to learn How to install Android 13 beta.

Update: 12/14/2022 12:23 EST by Manuel Phono

More features and details

The article has been updated with more hidden findings and details in Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1.